Push-button for electric switches.



C. J. KLEIN. PUSH BUTTON FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES. APPucAflou FILED Nov. 5. 1913.

1 1 8 3,076 Patented May 16, 1916.

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CHARLES 6'. KLEIN, O MILW'AUKEE, WISCONSIN, A SSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., 0F MILW'AUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

PUSH-BUTTON FOR ELEGTRIC SWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May is, 1916.

I! '0 (ZZZ whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Push-Buttons for Electric Switches, of which the following is a. full clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to push-buttons for electric switches.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for detachably securing extension caps to such push-buttons.

A further object is to provide cap-securing means adapted to compensate for varia tions in push-button diameters.

Further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In order that my invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a view of a lamp socket having an elongated push-button, one end of the latter being shown in section; Fig. 2 is an elevation view of a push-button, an extension cap and a securing means, when separated; Fig. 3 is a top perspective of the securing means; and, Fig. i is an end view of the same.

The lamp socket l incloses a switch mechanism operated by a reciprocablepushbutton 2. The push-button may be manufactured in a standard length and thereafter readily increased in length when desired by the addition of detachable extension caps 23.

The ends of the push button are of slightly reduced diameter beyond the annular shoulders 4: to receive securing clips 5. The caps 3 are cylindrical in form and closed at their outer ends. If desired, a position indicator 6 for the switch may be fixed to one of the closed ends. The caps are preferably of metal, though they may be made of other suitable material.

The clips, 5 are designed to fit over the reduced ends of the push-button and to be inclosed by the caps. In order to afford resiliency, the clips are longitudinally split,

as at 7 In the preferred form, the oppo-' site ends of the clip are of different diameters and, this is effected by providing a transverse slot 8 in the clip and then perinanently contracting the end 9 of the latter I to a diameter slightly less than that of the opposite end 10. If desired, an additional slot, 11, may of the scribed.

be provided in the portion 10 clip, for a purpose hereinafter de- Attachment of the cap 3 to the push-but clip thus frictionally grasps the push-button, while the end 10 frictionally engages and is compressed by the interior of the cap.

Moreover, the effectiveness of this attachment is enhanced by reason ing the resilient arms of the clip against the push-button. In practice, the end 9 of the clip is preferably slightly smaller in diameter than the reduced end of the pushbutton so that the same may be expanded in use to fit push-buttons of diflerent diameter and accordingly compensate for ordinary variation therein.

In operating the switch, it is apparent that all pressure on the caps is expended in a direction to retain the same on the pushbutton. If desired, however, a short radial stud 12 may be provided in the cap to enter the slot 11 in the clip and thus hold the parts more rigidly together.

vVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1; The combination with a lamp socket casing having opposite apertures in its side walls, of an inclosed switch mechanism having a reciprocable operating member with alined push button extremities protruding through said casing apertures, and a pair of auigiliary extension caps readily attachable to and detachable from said push button extremities for varying the length of said switch operating member, said caps having circuit-indicating push button extremities and including means to telescope on and fri'ctionally engage said first mentioned push button extremities.

2. In combination, a push-button operating member for electric switches, an extension' cap adapted to fit over the same, and a resilient split member for securing said of the cap wedgtion of slightly less diameter than said push-button for receiving the latter and a portion of slightly greater diameter than said cap to be received by the latter.

3. In combination, a push-button operat- 5 ing member for electric switches having a shoulder spaced from its end, an extension cap for said push-button, and a resilient,

longitudinally divided clip frictionally interposed between said parts for securing the 10 same together, said clip having one end to be witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses: T. H. WATSON,

F. H. HUBBARD.

copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

